Tag Archives: lois lane

R.I.P. to Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane in 1978’s Superman and its three sequels.

Born Oct. 17, 1948, in Yellowknife, the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories, Kidder began her career in the late 1960s starring in low-budget Canadian films and TV shows before making her way to California, where the beach house she shared with actress Jennifer Salt regularly hosted parties where such party-goers as Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Brian De Palma and Susan Sarandon regularly dropped in.

After scoring roles in films like De Palma’s Sisters (1973) and 1975’s The Great Waldo Pepper starring opposite Robert Redford, Kidder landed the role of a lifetime playing the spunky reporter who catches Superman’s eye.

Not that playing that iconic role didn’t have its downside: “It was exciting, but for a while being typecast as Lois made my vanity and narcissism scream,” she told The Guardian in 2005. “Hadn’t people seen my other work? But now my grandkids watch it, and think I was Superman’s friend, so that’s a thrill.”

To honor the first Lois Lane who ever had the chance to capture my heart, here are my picks for the lines of dialogue that showcase her character perfectly, and could only be delivered with perfection by Kidder:

“I didn’t sleep a wink last night. Do you know what it’s like to hear birds singing at dawn, after you’ve just spend the whole night crying…? Don’t you know this is killing me? Have you any idea what it’s like… to have you come in here every day, and not be able to talk normally to you, or show how I feel about you, or speak to anybody else about you… hell, I don’t even know what to call you!”

Ursa: What an undemanding male this Superman must be.Lois Lane: Yeah, and you could use a tuck here and there yourself, sister.

“Once a girl’s seen Superman in action, Niagara Falls kind of leaves you cold. You know what I mean?”

“You know something? You’re a real pain in the neck!”

Jimmy Olsen: Chief, I didn’t have my camera with me.Perry White:(while Jimmy mouths the words he knows by heart) A photographer eats with his camera. A photographer sleeps with his camera.Lois Lane: I’m glad I’m a writer.

Clark Kent: Really, Lois, supposing that man had shot you? Is it worth risking your life over ten dollars, two credit cards, a hairbrush, and a lipstick?Lois Lane: How did you know that?Clark Kent: Know what?Lois Lane: You just described the exact contents of my purse.Clark Kent: Hmm. Wild guess.

“That’s Clark, nice.”

Clark Kent: Lois! Um, uh, Lois! Uh (offer Lois her hot dog) Uh, here you go.Lois Lane: Where were you?Clark Kent: I was getting hot dogs. (Lois takes both hot dogs) What do you mean?Lois Lane: Well, it seems kind of strange to me that every time Superman’s around, you disappear.Clark Kent: Superman?! I mean, he was here?Lois Lane: Mm-hmm.Clark Kent:(looks up) Golly!Lois Lane: And you weren’t… as usual. So what have you got to say about that?Clark Kent: Darn! I forgot your orange juice. (starts to walk away)Lois Lane: Clark!Clark Kent: No orange juice?

Lois Lane: You know, it’s, it’s really amazing. I never started to put it together before now. It’s just kind of funny, you know, cause a good reporter isn’t supposed to let anything slip by her.Clark Kent: No. Of course not.Lois Lane: Well, uh, I’m beginning to get the picture.Clark Kent: As usual, Lois, I- I really don’t know what you’re talking about. Um, tell you what, I- I’ll meet you back at the hotel.Lois Lane: What’s your hurry… Superman?

Lois Lane: Listen, I’m so sure you’re Superman, that I’m willing to bet my life on it.Clark Kent: What?Lois Lane: Now, if I’m right, you’ll turn into Superman. And if I’m wrong, you’ve got yourself one hell of a story.Clark Kent: You think I’m Superman? Boy, you certainly have some imagination, Lois. Huh. For a minute there, you almost had me convinced for a minute.Lois: Bye bye, baby! (throws herself into the Niagara River)

Lois Lane: You did all that for me, I don’t know what to say.Superman: Just say you love me.